On Wednesday 26th of September the first RSPB/Sound Approach School Birdboat launched with 75 lively children form Winton Primary School. Starting the trips earlier than usual means we’re hopefully going to be able to paint an accurate picture as to when certain species arrive back in the harbour during the autumn and winter. Our first trip certainly didn’t disappoint with an Osprey flying over Arne RSPB reserve before heading off down the Middlebere Channel. The Brownsea Lagoon was full with birds with 11 Spoonbill, 200+ Avocet, 600+ Black-tailed Godwit, plus many Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Teal, Shoveler and even a lonely Wheatear on the sea wall. At least 10 Sandwich Tern were seen still fishing out in the harbour mouth whilst the first returning Great Crested Grebes could be spotted in the sheltered bays around Brownsea and Furzey.